Do you ever listen to the words you speak? “I nearly died laughing…” “I could have killed (him, her, them)”…Really! If you could carry through by acting on these words, would you? Of course not – they are just expressions. However, couldn’t we phrase it differently? Then again, we may not be aware of the power of words, our words. Any time the words ‘never’ or ‘always’ are used, be aware! You really may not want your words to come to fruition. Unfortunately, we tend to under estimate the power of words.
Which thought leads to – exactly how powerful do you think your words are? Are they able to accomplish whatever you have said? Let me quickly remind you of 2 scriptures – James warns us (3:10) “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” Perhaps this warning is given so that we are mindful of: “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37) Words are very serious.
Another point on the power of words is found in Mark 11:23
“For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain ‘Be
removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart,
but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have
whatever he says.”
Granted we need to add the power of faith to the words for fruitfulness to occur, but the point is that faith added to words creates an incredible force. Also, if you will notice, it does not say ‘think’ in your mind; we are to ‘say’.
When you look at scripture you see countless times in varied and sundry places the importance placed upon words. James laments the power of the tongue,
“… the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.” (3:6) “But no man can
tame the tongue… with it we ‘bless our God and Father’, and with it
we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.” (3:9)
Words, our tongue are serious considerations so we shouldn’t use words unthinkingly. It is possible to be mindful of what we say… if, for no other reason, then we can clarify or rescind or amplify on our initial comment.
In John 6:63, Jesus speaking “…The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” What about us? Do our words speak life? Do we lift up or tear down? Do we equivocate or do we stand by what we say? The bottom line is until and unless words become important to us we will never see the power the words have to effect lives. The things we say are important and I believe we need to be mindful of not only what we say but how we say it. Whatever you say, be very certain that if your words did come to fruition, you would want to see the results.
